Topic: Language, Mind, and Cognition
This course examines the relationships between language and
cognition. Topics include: What is the nature of language? How is
it acquired? What are the cognitive and computational underpinings
of various kinds of linguistic skill? How does the ability to use
words enhance human reasoning? How does language relate to
nonlinguistic experience? What kinds of investigation (e.g.
philosophical, socio-cultural, neuroscientific) are appropriate for
the understanding of language? The course also explores key
concepts such as syntax, semantics, truth, reference, and content.
The issues are approached from multiple perspectives, including
those of analytic philosophy and cognitive science.